Cut cauliflower from its thick stem and cut into medium size pieces. Grate into rice in a food processor in two batches, using the metal blade, not a grater disc. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan and add grated cauliflower. Cook on medium heat, covered for 4 minutes, then stir and add 1/3 cup water. Cook covered for 4 more minutes. Add more water if necessary to prevent sticking. Stir in the remaining vegetables and salt. Cook covered until the vegetables begin to soften, about 4 more minutes.

Research shows that people who exercise with others tend to stick with a routine, so I’ve come up with a virtual “Healthy Lifestyle” team.

During the month of July myself, my adult daughters (we all live in different cities) and anyone else who wants to participate, will be doing some form of daily exercise. One of my daughters will run one mile a day or more. My other daughter will include swimming laps, and I will mix it up between fast walking, hiking, using a mini-trampoline or a stationary bike, for a minimum of 20 minutes a day. What will you do for 20-30 minutes a day during the month of July?

Imagine yourself feeling healthier, stronger, and maybe even slimmer after a month of daily movement. Please join us, no matter where you live in the world, and let us know you are on the “Healthy Lifestyle” team by leaving a comment below.

We can make an opportunity attractive to another person (adult or child) with a reward or with a threat, but ultimately it’s the other persons’ choice to decide what they will do.

When we want someone to do something they don’t want to do, rather than getting disappointed or angry at them, think about the times when you use your freewill to decline an opportunity from someone else.

We always have the choice of saying “yes or no,” or “not now or not in that way.” Every decision we make, whether it’s deciding to do or not do something, for ourselves or another person, has a consequence and an effect on ourselves and others.

Today, think about what you are expecting of others and what others are expecting of you. Before you answer, ask yourself if what you are being asked to do is something you want to do, don’t mind doing, or actually enjoy doing. We often choose to do things we would rather not do because they are self-serving, such as tasks at work, compromising to maintain relationships, and exercising or going to bed early to take care of our bodies.

Remember, you can never get anyone to do anything. You can only give them the opportunity to choose, and the choice is always theirs.

A baby’s way of handling stress is to cry, a toddler’s way is to have a tantrum, and then as we get a bit older, we are taught that it’s not socially acceptable to use these behaviors, especially in public. A dog’s way of letting go of stress is to shake it out. Sometimes it’s just their head, and other times it’s with their full body.

Take some time today to use your body to release stress, shake it out; shake out your hands, arms and legs, you might also try bouncing in place, like young kids often do.

Last night I was leaving San Jose where I had just heard Robert Holden, the author of Happiness Now speak. I was feeling happy, peaceful and filled with love. I got in my car and expected to be home in just over an hour.

I had confidence in being able to follow the freeway signs and navigate my way home. After 15 minutes I realized I wasn’t traveling on the same freeway I took to get there. I followed signs to San Francisco, knowing I was heading in the right direction, yet 30 minutes later I still was second guessing if I was on a route that was going to get me home to the East Bay.

Then, I had an epiphany. Recognizing that my feeling of happiness was being gradually taken over by stress, frustration and uncertainty, and wanting to get back to feeling happy, I had I asked myself, “What could I have done differently that would have been loving to myself?”

The answer was clear. The most loving thing I could do for myself when unfamiliar with an area would be to get out a map or turn on the navigation in my car or on my phone BEFORE driving.

I eventually made it home, as I always do, and I’m looking forward to creating a different experience for myself next time. What’s one area of your life where you could be more loving towards yourself?

Sleep has been shown to affect our fat cells! A new study from the University of Chicago, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, determined that four nights of sleep deprivation reduced insulin sensitivity in fat cells by a whopping 30 percent.

The less sensitive our cells are to insulin, the less our body produces the hunger-regulating hormone leptin. The less leptin we produce, the hungrier we are, and our sensors that tell us when we are full or satisfied don’t work properly. This can lead to overeating and weight gain or difficulty losing weight.

I was looking for a new lamp for my office last week and found myself overwhelmed by all of the choices. I started to question whether it was just about that there were too many choices or if there was something else going on.

I approached my lamp search like I do most things for me. Find something practical, that will do the job, and not cost too much money.

What if I started my search for a lamp by looking for something that was appealing to me, and that I would want to look at daily? I realized that what was missing in MY lamp search was ME.

The new lamp, although nice, is going back. I decided to keep the one I have, even though I have to plug it in every time I want to use it, because I like the way it looks and the amount of light it provides.

When is the last time you looked at the night sky, I mean really took the time to notice the stars and the moon? Or marveled at a beautiful sunrise or sunset? Stargazing and watching a sunrise or sunset are activities that adults and children can enjoy together.

There is something magical about looking at the sky by day or by night. It can put us in a feeling of awe or in touch with our sense of wonder.

Coat a large frying pan with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Add the eggplant cubes and cook for 1 minute, add 1/2 cup water, oregano and salt, then stir. Saute eggplant covered, stirring frequently. Add more water if necessary. Cook until eggplant softens. Remove cooked eggplant from the pan and set aside. Using the same frying pan, place 1 teaspoon olive oil and greens, sprinkle with oregano and salt, if desired, and saute until wilted. Place the greens on a serving dish and top with eggplant or mix them together.